Sealing mechanism



June 1, 1937. SCOTT SEALING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24. 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1, 1937. H, S T 2,082,722

' SEALING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1, 1937. H. T. SCOTT SEALING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 1, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SEALING MECHANISM Henry T. Scott, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application August '24, 1934, Serial No. 741,330

, s Claims.

The present invention relates to sealing mechanisms and particularly to mechanisms for imparting final sealing pressure to the folded, paramn impregnated closure end portion of a paper container of the type used for the packaging of liquids, whereby the end of such container is effectively sealed against the escape of liquidwhich has been previously introduced.

In the pending application of John R. Van Wormer, Serial Number 277,414, filed May 14, 1928, is-disclosed a method of and apparatus for forming, liquid proofing, charging and sealing paper containers. In accordance with the process set forth in that application a paper blank is first formed into a container, sealed at one end and square or substantially square in cross section,

the opposite end having a foldable portion adapted to form the closure thereof. The container is then coated with parafiin or some other suitable liquid proofing substance; After the paraflin has hardened the container is charged with a liquid, for instance, milk, and after the charging operation has been completed the upper'end portion of the container, which is divided by score lines into panels, is folded along the score lines in such manner that a transversely extending central upstanding rib results, this rib comprising several parallel piles of paraflin impregnated paper. It is then necessary to compress the several plies of this rib tightly together in order to effectively seal the end of the container against leakage, the paraffin coating of the several plies which comprise the rib being preferably rendered plastic or semi-plastic by heating just prior or during the pressing operation so that the paraifin will flow into all the interstices of the rib to effectively close any channels, however minute, through which liquid might subsequently escape. 4

In order to form a thoroughly leak proof seal a heavy pressure should-be applied to the rib. Furthermore, the pressure applying mechanism should be of such natureas to be able to perform its functions quickly, inasmuch as the entire package forming, charging, and sealing operations are preferably performed by meansof an automatic machine designed to operate at relatively high speed.

In. accordance with the present invention a sealing mechanism is provided by means of which such a sealing operation as has just been described may be performed with great rap dity while, at the same time, the necessary heavy pressure is applied. The novel sealing mechanism is of great ruggedness and simplicity, occupies but small space and may readily-and conveniently be attached so as to form an element of the complete machine. Speed of operation is prometed, while atthe same time the ability ofthe machine to exert the necessary heavy pressure is maintained, by providing means for first producing a relatively rapid closing movement of the jaws, or until the jaws are in substantial contact with the container rib, and a second means which then becomes active to produce the further final closing movement of the jaws and the necessary heavy pressure. This second means produces a closing movement of the laws which is much slower than that produced by the first jaw closing means but is so designed as to be able to produce a much heavier thrust of the jaws against the work. The machine therefore includes means for producing rapid closing movement of the jaws up until the time that heavy pressures are required and additional means for thereafter producing the heavy pressures required, this last means being slower in motion but able to develop greater forces. Naturally, in adapting the principles of the invention to the performance of various types of work the design and arrangement of its component elements may be considerably varied. That form of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, therefore, is set forth by way of example only.

In the drawings: V

Fig. 1 is .a side elevation of portion of an automatic paper bottle machine, the novel sealmechanism for producing the initial rapid closing movement of the Jaws; and

Fig. '7 is a partial section through portion of the mechanism, showing certain of the elements thereof in modified form. I

While the working members or elements of the apparatus maybe supported in any suitable manner, the frame illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is suitable. This frame includes a horizontally disposed member l0 which, when attached to an automatic paper bottle making machine, extends transversely of the machine and has its ends supported respectively, upon the upright side members thereof, such as the members II and I2 respectively. Two longitudinally extend 2 aoeavse o dlcated at it, longitudinally of the machine and transversely to the frame member it, the upper central rib is of the container being guided by a U-shawd guide member 2b to a position intermediate the relatively movable laws 2i and 22 15 of the sealing mechanism, whereupon the forward movement of the conveyor chain is tem= porarily halted while the ling operation is performed.

To effect the compression of the rib the rela- 20 tively movable jaws 2i and 22 are caused to approach each other, rapidly during the time that no substantial pr 1- of the rib is talnng place and thereafter more slowly, while heavy pressure is exerted. After the seal has 25 been eflected the jaws are moved apart, the

initial opening movement of the jaws being relatively slow and the final opening movement of the jaws being relatively fast. After the jaws have disengaged the rib the conveyor chain 55 30 will then continue its movement, removing the sealed container from between the jaws and introducing the rib of an unsealed container.

As it is desired to maintain the laws at a relatively h temperature during the sealing oper-' 35 ation in order that the'parafin upon the rib of the carton may be rendered plastic and easily flowable, a hwting means. is provided. This heating means may be of any desired nature but I prefer to utilise steam as the heating fluid Both of the jaws 2i and 22 may be movablebut I prefer to mount one of them, in this case. 50 jaw 2i, rigidly upon the frame and to effect the relative movement of the jaws by providing means for the movement of jaw22 alone. Jaw 2| is illustrated only in cross section in the draw. lugs but it will be understood that this. law is 55 of such length as to present an elongated active bearing face to the container rib, and jaw 22 is of similar dimensions. Jaw 2i may be attached to the frame by any suitable means but I preferably provide it with a dovetailed portion 60 2| which flts within a dovetail slot formed in the frame member l so as to be longitudinally insertable into thisslot, a set screw 26 being provided. to prevent displacement.

Jaw 22 is mounted upon the end of abolt 21 65 which is axially movable but non-rotatable, hav= ing a squared portion slidably mounted within a similarly formed bearing 28 which forms a portion of the frame. .which lies immediately to the right of the bear- 70 ing 20 is threaded, as shown in Fig. 3, and rotatably mounted upon this threaded portion is an eirt'ernally toothed and internally threaded nut 30, the teeth of this nut meshing with the teeth of a segment 3| fixed upon a shaft 22' suit- 75 ably supported in bearings formed in the rame That portion of .the bolt 21 Ill, the axis of rock shaft 82 being parallel to the axis of bolt 21. An axlally extending sleevelike portion 33 of nut 30 projects into a recess 3 formed in a sliding block 85, movable in a vertical plane which includes the axis of the bolt 21, sleeve-like portion 33 having at its end an annular flange or collar 38 located entirely within recess 3%. As can be more clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. 5, sliding block 85 is provided with vertically extending parallel flanges 31 the distance between which, measured horizontally, is less than the diameter of v flange 88 of nut extension 33, so that the nut and sliding block are interconnected at all times.

In rear of flange 36 and encircling bolt 21 is a thrust bearing 38, one race of this hearing resting against the inner wall of recess 36 and the other against the end of nut 36, both races encircling the bolt and the bearing being of such thickness that substantial movement of nut 86 relative to block 35 in a direction parallel to the axis of bolt 21 is prevented while atithe a some time vertical movement of the sliding block 35 relatively to the bolt and nut may freely occur.

Sliding block 35 in reality comprises a wedging means for producing, as it moves vertically upwardly and downwardly, axial movement of bolt 21. It may be designated a 'wedging means by reason of the fact that it is, wedge-shaped in a vertical figure taken on the,axis of bolt E'L'the face of the block remote from the nut being inclined, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, and having sliding engagement with the correspondingly inclined face of a stationary guide'block lli suitably supported upon the frame. Preferably the sliding block or wedging means is provided with an under cut recess and the guide blocir M with,

aflanged rib which closely fits within such recess. With this construction, block 25 is positive- 40 iv connected to guide block 4d at all times although readily slidable relatively thereto in a vertical plane. By reason of the interconnection of the wedging block 35 and nut 86, which nut is in turn threaded upon bolt 21, it is clear that an upward movement of sliding block 35 will effect separation of the jaws 2i and 22 and that a downward movement of this block will cause jaw 22 to approach jaw 2!. By reason of the fact also that the inter-engaging faces of the sliding block 35 and guide block 50 are disposed at substantial angles to the vertical, movements of the block 35 produce relatively rapid movements of jaw 22 toward or away from jaw 2|, depending upon the direction of movement of block 35.

In'order to produce the vertical movements of block 35 and hence rapid movements of jaw 22, a camming mechanism is provided for positively raising and lowering this block. This camming mechanism includes a rocker arm 45 pivoted at approximately its mid point upon an extension 46 of the frame, this rocker arm having in turn pivoted to its upper and lower ends respectively, the upper and lower camming members H and 48, which members might likewise be designated with fiat parallel upper andlower faces.

ering the sliding block 35 and in positively moving the same from its upper position to its lower position, or vice versa, depending upon the direction of rotation of the rocker. The part 5,l of sliding block 35 is formed separately from the main position of the block and is attached thereto, as by means of screws 52, for reasons of convenience of assembly and manufacture. Intermittent motion is imparted to rocker 45 by means of a rotary cam 54 fixed upon a rotatable shaft 55, a roller 56 secured to the lower end of rocker 45 lying within the cam groove 51.

Intermittent motion is imparted to segment 3| through shaft 32, arm 58 fixed on the-end of this shaft, link 59 pivoted to the end of arm 58, slide 60, roller 6i carried by the slide and cam member 62 which may likewise be fixed upon shaft 55. Slide 60 is guided, so as to move in a definite fixed horizontal path, by means of a guide 63 secured to a frame member and the cam slot 64 of cam 62 is so formed as to produce swinging movement of segment 3|, through the interconnecting mechanism just described, at the desired times.

The cam slots of the'two cams 54 and 52 are so formed in relationship to each other that in effecting a closing movement of jaw 22 relatively to jaw 2|, the wedging means or sliding block 35 is first lowered by the cooperation of the upper and lower camming members 41 and 48, block 85 moving toward the left (Fig. 3) during its lowering movement and hence also thrusting bolt 21 rapidly toward the left, the teeth'of nut 30 simply sliding relatively to the teeth of segment 3|. Immediately upon the wedging means 35 reaching its lowermost position, the segment 8| becomes active and causes rotation of nut 30 on bolt 21. This rotation of nut 30 is in such direction as to cause further forward movement of the bolt, the nut itself being securely anchoredto block 35 and which block is at the same time also definitely maintained in position by the camming mechanism described.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figures 2 and 4 the upper camming member 41 has a cylindrical central portion which slidably fits within a cylindrical aperture or bearing formed in the frame, and a forwardly extending portion When member 41 has been fully advanced and block 35 fully depressed the forward end of this member is interposed between the fiat upper surface of the block and a parallel surface of the frame with the flat lower surface of member 41 in close contact with the block' and the fiat upper surface of this member in close contact with a parallel surface of the frame. The block is thus positive- 1y locked in itslowermostposition until member 41 is-withdrawn.

The result of the rotation of nut 30 is therefore to give the bolt 21 and jaw 22 a relatively slow advancing or closing movement, which is the final closing movement of the sealing apparatus and imparts a heavy pressure upon the container rib. This pressure may be very heavy by reason of the mechanical advantage derived from the use of the bolt 21-and nut 30. At the conclusion of this further advancing movement of the bolt due to rotation of nut 30 the container pressing operation is completed and it only remains to withdraw jaw 22; Retraction of the jaw is effected first by movement of segment 3| and rotation of nut 30 in the opposite direction, thus relieving the heavy pressure, and thereafter by upward movement of the wedging block 35, whereupon the sealed container may be removed and the conveyor caused to remove it and to insert the rib of an unsealed container between the pressure jaws.

The jaw closing mechanism may therefore be said to comprise two separate means for connecting the jaw to a single source of power, 1. e. the shaft 55, one such means producing a rapid initial closing movement of the jaws and the second a considerably slower but more powerful closing movement of the jaws. If desired, of course, these two closing means. may be actuated from separabiydriven shafts but for the purposes of simplicity and convenience it is pre- .ferred to actuate them from a single power cured to the frame 10. The upper end of the spring bears against the bottom of sliding block the shape of which has been slightly modified, as shown, and the ends of the spring are so connected to the adjusting screw and sliding block thatthe spring may rock slightly as the block moves vertically and horizontally. Naturally, other features of the invention may be slightly modified in adapting the same to, the performance of different tasks throughout the mechanical arts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for sealing containers comprising, relatively movable work engaging jaws, a movable member upon which one of said jaws is supported, a source of power, and separate means operatively connecting the power source and member whereby the member may be given a preliminary relatively rapid closing movement by one such means, and thereafter a final relatively slow closing movement by another means.

' rapid closing motion of thebolt and thereafter operating the nut to produce a slower closing motion of the bolt.

3. The-combination set forth in claim 2 in which a thrust bearing is interposed between the end of the bolt and the wedging means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the bolt end is slidably connected to a wedge block which is movable transversely of the bolt.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 inwhich the bolt end is operatlvely connected to a wedge block slidable transversely thereof and in which means is provided for positively sliding said wedge block in opposite directions.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the bolt end is operatively connected to a wedge block slidable transversely thereof, and in which sliding movement of the block is produced by spaced alternately acting camming members,

7. Apparatusfor sealing containers comprising a frame, relatively movable work engaging jaws, and means for eilfecting relative movements of said jaws, said means including a member operatively connected to a jaw, a device for acting on said member to produce a preliminary relatively rapid movement thereof. and a second device formed separately from, and movable relatively to, said first device, for acting on said member toiefiect a final relatively slow jaw closing movement thereof.

8. Apparatus for sealing containers comprising a frame, relatively movable work engaging Jaws,

and means for eilecting relative movements or said Jaws, said means including a member operatively connected to a jaw, a wedge device for acting on said member to produce a preliminary relatively rapid movement thereof, and adevice having a threaded element operatively connected to said member and revoluble about an axis, for effecting a final relatively slow jaw closing movement thereof.

9. Apparatus for sealing containers comprising a frame, relatively movable work engaging Jaws, and means for eflecting relative movements of said Jaws, said means including a member op- ,eratively connected to a jaw and having a cylindrical threaded portion, a wedge device for acting on said member to produce a preliminary relatively rapid movement thereof, and a device having a threaded element rotatably mounted on the threaded portion of said member, and revoluble about the axis of said member, for eifecting a final relatively slow Jaw closing move 

